7 "The King's Name"

Everyone was in panic due to Ely's disappearance. The King was very furious, saying he would behead the guards who were assigned to her if they did not find her soon. They all knew they shouldn't take his words lightly because he had already severely punished several servants who failed in doing their work.

The King sat on his golden throne in the throne room, waiting for anyone to give any news about his missing prisoner. He furrowed his eyebrows as he sipped his favorite red wine given by one of the maidservants.

Soon after, General Lum returned, "Your Highness… We have found her."

The King quickly stood up from his throne and went with him outside.

The King did not mind the darkness of the night, but what was on his mind was that he looked forward to seeing Ely again. He wanted to have the beautiful and mysterious woman by his side, and he swore to himself, once he finds her, he wouldn't let her escape.

Was bringing the royal physician to treat her wounds not enough to make her stay? He stopped showing his rough side to her, so why did she attempt to escape?

Just below the King's bedroom window, Ely was kneeling on the fine sand, and the guards' spears were pointed on her.

"King!" Ely yelled as soon as she saw the King, "Please let me explain, I am not attempting to escape or anything!"

"Lower your weapons!" The King ordered, and the men did as they were told.

"King… You'll spare me, right? I… I fell from your window!"

"What a lame excuse," one guard said, "It's obvious that you were trying to escape!

"No! I just want to feel the fresh air, but I-"

But she was interrupted when the King carried her in his arms. "General Lum, I want all the guards you assigned to her today out of my palace. Replace them at once!"

The King glared at them, then returned to his chamber. He dropped Ely on his bed and stared at her.

Ely's blue eyes gazed at his gray eyes. From any angle, the man in front of him definitely looked like her husband, but their personalities seemed to be the opposite. She sighed, thinking how he missed her husband.

"Adam…" she muttered, and it was heard by the King, making him frown.

"Do not call me by that name. I am not your husband."

"I… I'm sorry, King… I didn't mean to offend you... uhh… What is your name, by the way?"

The King sat on the cushioned chair beside the bedside table. She replied, "Maro. My name is Maro of the Leon Clan."

"Maro… what a wonderful name," Ely beamed a smile, "Nice to meet you, King Maro!"

King Maro widened his eyes in surprise. It was the first time that someone had ever told him that he had a wonderful name. In his nation, whenever someone heard the name "Maro", they would tremble in fear.

"By the way, King Maro, you can call me Ely."

"Queen Ely?"

She shook her head, "No, just Ely."

"Then, call me Maro."

Ely was confused. Why would the ruthless King let her call him with just his name?

"If… If I call you Maro, are you going to behead me?"

"No. I hate being called the replacement of another person… So call me Maro instead of Adam," he clenched his fists as he remembered a distant memory.

"I am a suspicious person, aren't I? I don't get you," Ely uttered. "Why will you let a stranger call you by your name… plus, you're a King-"

"It's because you are beautiful."

Hearing this, Ely was dumbfounded. She did not expect the King to say this with a straight face. Her cheeks turned red, thinking of what she should reply to him, "Uhm… Thanks… I-"

But before she continued, the King stood up, "You are wounded, so you should not move. I will have a maidservant be brought here to attend to your needs." He slowly walked towards the door.

"Uhm… This is your bedroom, I will just return to the room you gave me last time-"

"No, just stay here. I will be spending the night in my workroom to read some pending documents," and before the King shut the door, he said, "See you tomorrow, Ely."

The door closed, and Ely laid down the bed. She stared at the bed's canopy as she was lost in her thoughts, 'What if Maro and Adam are the same?' She grabbed the pillow beside her and hugged it, 'They really looked so alike, but Maro has longer hair, and he has a strong personality. On the other hand, Adam has shorter hair, and he has a soft personality… They seem different, but… why do I feel that they are similar? Ugh, I don't know what to think anymore!'

Ely had decided to get to know Maro first. Besides, considering her beauty as a big factor, it seemed like the King had a crush on her, as she observed how his attitude changed drastically. She thought that perhaps, revealing her artist title "Queen of Ballad" made him treat her like a foreign queen and replace his bad impression of being a spy or assassin.

It was a good thing that she was given some green tea and seaweed dishes before she fell down the window. That night, she just let the maidservant sit on a chair near the door to do her job of attending to her. Ely drifted off to sleep, and a smile formed on her face. She hadn't slept well since her husband had died, and now, she felt better, with her wishful thinking that her husband had returned in the persona of the King.